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Finish what you start and do it the best that you can!

I have noticed one thing in this life the older I get; there are many people who start many projects but there are few who actually finish what they start while doing the best job that they could. Christians are challenged by the Word of God to do their best in all that they do and take their task to the end (in other words, finish what they start and finish it well).

I am preparing a message for Friday night’s final youth meeting. Since we are getting close to the end of the school year and summer camps are about to begin. I want to challenge (myself) all of our members of the youth group to finish the school year well, work hard this summer in all of the summer camps, and also work hard to help their parents at home in the village.

Both the Old and New Testaments challenge us to work hard and finish what we start well. God is good to us so when He calls us to do something, He also equips us and teaches us how to do it step by step.

I. Get prepared

God wants us to accomplish what we start and He prepares a way for us to do that. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul lays out the plan for us on how to prosper (accomplish what we start and do it well).

Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

God has lain at our disposal all that we need to be victorious in this life. I would like to take a look at what God has given us step by step. He tells us that we have to take up what He has given us. We have to use it, implement what we have on a daily basis. We do not go into battle unprepared and that is the same mindset that we should have in any task that we go about performing.

II. A righteous man will prosper in all that he does because he works hard to do the best that he can.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed {prosper}. (v:3)

In the context of this chapter, a righteous man is a man who enjoys the Word of God and enjoys meditating on It constantly. In order to prosper (do what you do well and finish what you start) then you need to love the Word of God, to study It, to think on It, and to live by It on a moment by moment basis. As a young person, in order to accomplish all that you have to do this summer (finish the school year well, participate in all the summer activities, and help your parents at home) then you need to prepare now by being a good student of the Word of God.

III. A righteous man will prosper in all that he does because he has disciplined himself to obey God at all times.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

The phrase “cultivate your own salvation” could also be translated “carry your salvation to the end”. In other words, the salvation that was placed in you, by God, is to be carried out to the end (the end of your life, i.e. serve God till the end of your life). In order to carry out your salvation till the end (serve the Lord all the days of your life until the end) then you need to discipline yourself to be obedient to the Lord at all times (when people are around and when they are not). If you are saved then God has given you all that you need to finish what you start and do it well. When God gives you salvation He also places His Holy Spirit in you.

And the Spiritof Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he tore it as he would have torn a kid; and nothing was in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

And the Spiritof Jehovah came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave changes of garments to them who told what the riddle meant. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. (Judges 14:16, 19)

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people to empower them to act. In the New Testament, those who have received God’s salvation have received the gift of the Holy Spirit that enters them and stays with them instead of just coming upon them. We have this power in us at all times which means that we can do what we do well and carry it to the end.Points one and two go hand in hand. The power of God is in you through salvation. God’s Word teaches you how to do what you need to do step by step. As you train yourself in the discipline of obedience then you act the right way at the right time.

IV. A righteous man will prosper in all that he does because he has faith that God will work in and through him in every situation.

A third key element in this process is faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If you want to prosper in all that you do then you need the wisdom of the Word of God, discipline to be obedient, the power of the Holy Spirit, and faith to act in the midst of difficult situations.

knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. (James 1:3)

Faith means taking God at His Word and acting according to His Word, even if you do not understand the reasons why. In order to work hard, finishing what you start and doing it well until the end then there will be times when you will have to obey God and be faithful to Him even if you do not understand the reason why and see no light at the end of the tunnel. There is a story about 3 trees that sit and talk about what they are going to be used for in this world when they are cut down and molded into something by human hands. One day, one of the trees was cut down to become a mighty ship. The other two sat and talked about what it must be like to be part of a mighty ship and then began to dream again about what they would become. The next was used for a palace for a king. The last tree sat thinking about the other two and what he would become. He was finally taken and discovered that he was going to be used for a torture rack by the Romans, a cross to crucify a criminal. He as very sad because his friends became mighty while he was going to have a shameful existence. While the crucifixion took place, the tree discovered that it held the Savior of the World and would be one of the greatest trees in human history. So. even if you do not understand what God wants you to do, you need to do it as best you can and carry it to the end for God’s glory and purpose. This is what it means to have faith. Do you have this mindset, this outlook in your life? If you want to prosper then you must have faith like this.

I must ask you, are you a person who prospers in all that you do? Do you love the Word of God, train yourself to be disciplined in obedience, and live by faith so that you can please God? When you begin a project to you do your best to finish what you begin and do it well? Is your Christianity practical or just a theory in your life? The proof is in the pudding as the saying goes, if you are a true believer then you will do all that you can to finish what you start and do it well, following God’s plan step by step. May God help us obey Him and show our faith in Him through our daily lives.

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2 comments on “Finish what you start and do it the best that you can!”

It seems as if, globally, more who are not so “righteous” succeed.
How righteous would the Nazarean have been as the head of a giant multinational corporation…say, BritishPetroleum? Exxon? BainCapital?

God has a Word for the rich who acquire their riches unjustly and then use their riches incorrectly. This is not against rich people in general but instead, those who are unrighteous (you can be unrighteous and gain wealth)

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted ; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure ! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure ; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.